Thiruvananthapuram -Tourism

Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) is the capital of Kerala and also the headquarters of the trivandrum District.It is a beautiful seaside city built on seven hills. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland spreading over a total of 2,192sq.km.

Mahatma Gandhi has referred trivandrum as Evergreen city of India.

The city is the state capital and houses many central and state government offices, organizations and companies. Apart from being the political nerve centre of Kerala, it is also a major academic hub and is home to several educational institutions including the University of Kerala, and too many science and technology institutions, namely Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre , Technopark and IIST.

History

The city gets its name from the word, Thiru-anantha-puram, meaning the city of Anantha or the abode of the sacred Serpent Anantha on which Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Hindu trinity, reclines.

From around 1000 BC Thiruvananthapuram has been an ancient city with trading traditions. The rise of modern Thiruvananthapuram began with accession of Marthanda Varma in 1729 as the founding ruler of the princely state of Travancore. Thiruvananthapuram was made the capital of Travancore in 1745. The city developed into a major intellectual and artistic centre during this period. The golden age in the city history was during the mid 19th century under the reign of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal and Maharaja Ayilyam Thirunal. This era witnessed the establishment of the first English school, the Oriental Research Institute , the General Hospital , the Observatory & Manuscripts Library and the University College . The first Lunatic Asylum in the state was also started during the same period. Sanskrit College, Ayurveda College, Law College and a second grade college for women were started by Moolam Thirunal during this era.

The beginning of the 19th century was an age of tremendous political and social changes in the city. The Sree Moolam Assembly, established in 1904 was the first democratically elected legislative council in any Indian state. It was not under the direct control of the British Empire at any time, the city however featured prominently in India freedom struggle. The Indian National Congress made a very active presence in the city. In 1938 a meeting of the Indian National Congress was held which was  presided by Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramaiah

kuIn 1931 Chitra Thirunal Bala Rama Varma took over and witnessed many-sided progress. The promulgation of Temple Entry Proclamation (1936) was an act that underlined social emancipation. This era also saw the establishment of the Kerala University which was formerly known as University of Travancore in 1937.

With the establishment of Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in 1962, Thiruvananthapuram became the cradle of India’s ambitious space programs. The first Indian space rocket was developed and launched from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) located in the outskirts of the city in 1963. Several establishments of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) were later established in Thiruvananthapuram.

A major milestone in the city recent history was the establishment of Technopark,India first IT park in 1995. Technopark has developed into the largest IT Park in India and third largest in Asia and is home to MNC giants like Infosys, TCS, Ernst & Young, UST Global etc; This placed Thiruvananthapuram on the IT map of India and it is today one of the most promising in the country in terms of competitiveness and capability.

Tourist Places in Thiruvananthapuram

Kovalam Beach- The biggest of all tourist attractions in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) is the beach of Kovalam. The beach is situated only 16 km away from the city. Soft white sands, emerald sea and swaying palms of the beach make it a perfect destination for those who love sun, sand and surf. The Kovalam Beach has a long stretch of black sand. The light house beach, Hawah Beach and the Samudra beach are three parts of the famous Kovalam beach. It can be visited anytime in a year, but the best time to visit Kovalam beach is between September through March.

Padmanabha Swamy Temple- Located in the East Fort, Padmanabha Swamy Temple is one of the most popular Vishnu temples in South India. The place holds the prestige of being counted among 108 holiest abodes of Lord Vishnu in the works of Tamil saints. The salagramams that are used to make the statue of Lord Vishnu were imported from Nepal amidst much pomp and show. The presiding deity of the temple Lord Vishnu is reclining on a large serpent that is 'Anantha'. Stone carvings and murals adorn the temple.

Kuthiramalika Palace Museum- Built in Puthen Malika Palace, Kuthira Malika Palace is one of the fine examples of architecture of Kerala. The museum hosts a rare collection of mannequins, paintings, mirrors, chandeliers, furniture and other items. The royal thrones in ivory and Bohemian Crystal make for few of the most attractive pieces of art in the museum. One can also view the Gopuram of renowned Padmabhaswamy temple from here. 

Palkulangara Devi Temple- Palkulangara Devi Temple is widely known for being the best example of Kerala Vasthu Vidya. In fact, this is one of the most ancient temples in Kerala. The main deity in this temple is Durga, who appears as an avatar of AdiParasakthi, Durgabhagavathi. There are many other sub-deities in the premises of this temple.

Napier Museum- Named after a governor (Lord Francis Napier) of British India, Napier Museum has a marveling natural system to air condition, bearing the testimony to the technological progress of that period. The museum grounds also hold a Zoological garden, which is one of the oldest in the country.

Priyadarshini Planetarium- The Priyadarshini planetarium is amusing the visitors with its special shows on universe since 1994. The planetarium offers a view of night sky at any given time and of any desired place in past and in future within a time span of 12,500 years. With a seating capacity of 184 people, the museum is an equal favorite of children, adults and scholars of cosmology.

Tourist Destinations Near Thiruvananthapuram

Kanyakumari- Kanyakumari is located in the state of Tamil Nadu, but it makes for an excellent destination to visit from Trivandrum, especially because it is located only at a distance of 87 km from the city. Kanyakumari also happens to be the city where the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal meet. Kanyakumari temple, our lady of Ransom Church, memorials of Mahatma Gandhi and Vivekananda, Government museum and Vattakottai Fort make for some of the places that are worth visiting in the city of Kanyakumari.

Kochi- Kochi is located at a distance of 220 km from the city of Trivandrum. Kochi is a modern and developed town that offers numerous shopping options to the visitor. The place is particularly popular for its spices. The places to visit in the city are Hill Palace Museum, Fort Kochi, Willingdon Island, Dutch Palace, St. Francis Church, Jew Street, Synagogue and Cherai Beach.

Munnar- Located at a distance of 301 km from the city of Thiruvananthapuram, Munnar is one destination that you can't miss. The place is rich in tea plantations and has a picturesque beauty that makes it a preferred place to travel. Some of the places that attract tourists to this city include Mattupetty Dam, Eravikulam (Rajamalai) National Park, Anamudi Peak, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Echo Point, Kundala Lake, Atukkad Waterfalls and Blossom Garden. Some of the other cities within a comfortable reach of Trivandrum include Alleppey, Thekkady and Kumarakon.

Climate of Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram experiences pleasant climatic conditions all round the year. Summers in the city stretch from March to May with the maximum temperature rising up to 39°C. Monsoons begin in the month of June. The months of December, January and February are the coldest. It is best not to visit the city during the monsoon season.

How to Reach Thiruvananthapuram?

By Air- Trivandrum is home to one of the finest airports in south India. There are a number of domestic and international flights that operate to and from Trivandrum regularly. Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kochi are connected extremely well to Trivandrum.

By Rail- Thiruvananthapuram Central is one of the busiest railway stations in Kerala. It is excellently connected by a strong network of trains to most of the Indian cities. It is also a major part of the Southern Railway Division.

By Road- Traveling to Thiruvananthapuram by road is also not a problem. It connects extremely well with cities like Kochi, Alleppey, and Kumarakom. You can also reach Trivandrum easily from Chennai, Bangalore, and Madurai.